Issues and Techniques for Redacting PDF Files

  • Authors:

  • Gavin Wylie Manes;James Johnson;Alex Barclay;Michael Harvey;Elizabeth Downing;John Hale

  • Affiliations:

  • Digital Forensics Professionals, Tulsa, OK, USA;Computer Science, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA;Computer Science, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA;Digital Forensics Professionals, Tulsa, OK, USA;Digital Forensics Professionals, Tulsa, OK, USA;Computer Science, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA

  • Venue:
  • Journal of Digital Forensic Practice
  • Year:
  • 2008

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Abstract

The PDF (portable data format) file format is the de facto standard for platform-independent document creation, distribution, and archiving. However, due to the complexity of the PDF data format and the currently incomplete redaction methodologies, the confidentiality and integrity of current forensic PDF redaction is questionable. In-depth analysis of the failures of current redaction tools combined with unrecognized issues of redacting data from PDF files mandate additional design goals and considerations for a correct redaction methodology. A proof-of-concept bitwise redaction tool demonstrates solutions to such problems and was specifically developed to support low-level file redaction.